The clasp opened.
A paper slid halfway out.
Sterling Holdings Capital letterhead.
Across the top:
BOARD CHAIRWOMAN INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
10:30 A.M.
Bradley’s eyes moved over it.
Everything in his face changed.
Then changed back.
“Probably fake.”
He shoved the paper inside.
“People print anything now.”
Madison took the portfolio from him.
“Do not touch my property again.”
Richard Brown had returned.
He leaned against the marble column.
“What is this, some kind of settlement scam?”
Madison looked at him.
He smiled.
“Come in, create a scene, claim discrimination, walk out with a check?”
Victoria Davis arrived next.
Then Katherine.
All six senior executives were now within sight.
Gregory.
Helena.
Bradley.
Katherine.
Victoria.
Richard.
Madison looked at them.
Then at Sarah.
Sarah had gone pale.
Victoria stepped forward.
“I’m going to make this very simple.”
She raised one finger.
“Option one: You walk out that door voluntarily.”
Second finger.
“Option two: security removes you, police get involved, and you spend your day explaining why you ignored repeated instructions.”
Madison asked:
“Could each of you please state your full name and title?”
Katherine almost laughed coffee through her nose.
“You’re going to sue us?”
“I asked for your names.”
Richard said:
“This is pathetic.”
Gregory stepped forward.
“That’s enough.”
He clapped slowly once.
Sarcastic.
Sharp.
“You have wasted nearly an hour of our time.”
Madison said:
“I’ve been sitting quietly.”
“You’re creating a disruption.”
“You created the disruption.”
Gregory’s face hardened.
“Whitman Financial has operated in this building for more than a century.”
“I know.”
“We have dealt with much bigger problems than you.”
“I imagine.”
“Last chance.”
He pointed toward the revolving doors.
“Walk out or get dragged out.”
Madison did not move.
Helena turned toward the nearest guard.
“Do your job.”
The younger guard reached for Madison’s arm.
His hand closed around her elbow harder than necessary.
Madison looked down.
Then looked directly into his eyes.
“Sir.”
The certainty in her tone stopped him.
“Remove your hand.”
The guard hesitated.
“You are not going to want this on the record.”
His grip loosened.
Then released.
He stepped back.
Sarah broke.
She came around the desk.
“Stop.”
Everyone turned.
Tears were already in her eyes.
“Please.”
Her voice shook.
“Just let me call upstairs one more time.”
Gregory stared at her.
“Sarah.”
“She said her name is Madison Parker.”
“I heard you.”
“Then please let me verify—”
“Sit down.”
Sarah froze.
Gregory’s voice became cold.
“Or you will be unemployed before lunch.”
Sarah stopped breathing for a second.
Madison saw it.
The fear.